Flip-flap carton



Nov. 7.1967 R. T. JACKSON 3,351,267

FLIP-FLAP CARTON Filed Oct. 21, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 23 2o $16.2 egjflzs 3 53 in (39 L Y, K2? 2 Luv 51 INVENTOR ROBERT T. JACKSON I ATTORNIYS Nov. 7, 1967 R. T. JACKSON 3,351,267

FLIP-FLAP CARTON Filed Oct. 21, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ROBERT T. JACKSON ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,351,267 Patented Nov. 7, 1967 3,351,267 FLIP-FLAP CARTON Robert T. Jackson, Park Forest, lll., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 500,124

10 Claims. (Cl. 229-44) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A one-piece carton having a mouth set-off by longitudinal and transverse edges of predetermined lengths, and a pair of top panels normally overlying and closing the mouth. Each top panel is formed of interior and exterior portions, the latter of which is secured to a collar encircling the carton, and is of a length such that longitudinal edges thereof project beyond the carton mouth to protect material from entering the interior thereof along the transverse edges.

This invention relates to a novel carton having a readily openable and recloseable top panel, and is particularly directed to a carton having a top panel formed of a plurality of flaps which flip from a closed to an open position to permit rapid access to articles packaged in the carton.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel carton or container which includes a container body, at least' one top panel closing an upper end portion of the container body, a collar surrounding the container body and joined to the top panel, and the top panel being formed of a pair of flaps which normally overlie the upper end portion of the carton but are flipped to open the upper end portion upon the movement of the collar toward a lower end portion of the carton.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel carton or container comprising a container body, the container body having an upper end portion, the upper end portion defining a mouth of the container, a pair of top panels normally overlying and closing the mouth in a first position thereof and being flippable to a second position at which the mouth is open, each of the pair of top panels being formed of interior and exterior flaps folded into overlying relationship in the first position and a collar connected to each of the exterior flaps and being in external sliding relationship to the container body for moving the top panels by a flipping action form the first position to the second position thereof.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plane view of a blank from which the flip-flap carton of this invention is erected and illustrates the particular configuration of various panels for forming the carton.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the partially set-up blank of FIGURE 1, and illustrates a pair of collarforming panels being reversely folded toward associated side panels prior to the forming of a slidable collar therefrom.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken generally along line 33 of FIGURE 2, and more clearly illustrates the partially set-up condition of the container.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the completed coritainer and illustrates a pair of top panels closing a mouth of the container and a collar connected to each of the top panels adjacent an upper end portion of the container.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4, and illustrates interior and exterior overlying flaps forming each of the top panels.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 6-6 of FIGURE 4, and illustrates the collar in external telscopic relationship to the container.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container similar to FIGURE 4, and illustrates the top panels being flipped to an open position as the collar is slipped downwardly toward a bottom of the container.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 88 of FIGURE 7, and more clearly illustrates the position of the top panels during the initial movement of the collar toward the container bottom.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 9-9 of FIGURE 7, and illustrates a radial access opening formed in an end panel of the container.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container of FIGURES 4 and 7, and illustrates another position of the collar and top panels at which the radial access opening and a mouth of the container are completely uncovered to permit access to products packaged in the container.

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 1111 of FIGURE 10, and more clearly illustrates the position of the top panels and collar as the container is being fully opened.

A novel flip-flap carton or container constructed in accordance with this invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral 15 (FIGURES 4 through 11), and is formed from a container blank (FIGURES 1 through 3) constructed from paperstock or similar foldable sheet material. The container 15 will be best understood by first describing the blank 20 of FIGURES 1 through 3 of the drawings to which attention is now directed.

The container blank 20 includes a generally rectangular elongated member having longitudinal edges 21, 22 and transverse edges 23, 24. A plurality of longitudinal fold lines 25 through 29 and 30 through 34 set-off a longitudinal central panel portion, generally referred to by the reference numeral 35. A plurality of transverse fold lines 36 through 43 cooperate with the fold lines 25 through 34 to divide the longitudinal central panel portion into a plurality of individual panels as follows:

A bottom panel 45 is set-off by the fold lines 27, 39, 32 and 40.

A first side panel 46 is joined to the bottom panel 45 along the fold line 39, and is set-off by the fold lines 39, 26, 38 and 31.

A second side panel 47 is joined to the bottom panel 45 along the fold line 40, and is set-off by the fold lines 40, 33, 41 and 28.

'A first top panel, generally referred to by the reference numeral 50, is joined to the first side panel 46 by the fold line 38. The first top panel 50 is set-off between the fold lines 36, 38 and portions of the longitudinal edges 21, 22.

The first top panel 50 is divided into a pair of panel portions or flaps 51, 52 by the transverse fold line 37. The top panel portion 51 is set-off between the transverse fold lines 37, 38 and portions of the longitudinal edges 21, 22 while the top panel portion 52 is set-off between the transverse fold lines 36, 37 and portions of the longitudinal edges 21, 22. The top panel portion 52 is slightly longer than the top panel portion 51 and terminates in opposite edge portions 53, 54.

A second top panel, generally referred to by the reference numeral 60, is joined to the second side panel 47 by the transverse fold line 41. The second top panel 60 is set-off by the transverse fold line 41, the transverse fold line 43, and portions of the longitudinal edges 21, 22. The second top panel 60 is divided into a pair of top panel portions or flaps 61, 62 by a transverse fold line 42. The top panel portion 61 is set-off by the transverse fold line 41, the transverse fold line 42, and portions of the longitudinal edges 21, 22. The top panel portion 62 is similarly set-off between the transverse fold lines 42, 43 and portions of the longitudinal edges 21, 22. The top panel portion 62 is slightly longer than the top panel portion 61 and terminates in opposite edge por tions 63, 64.

A collar forming panel member 65 is joined to the first top panel 50 by the transverse fold line 36, and is set-off by the transverse fold line 36, the fold lines 25, 30, and the transverse edge 23.

Another collar forming panel 66 is joined to the second top panel 60 by the transverse fold line 43, and is set-off by the transverse fold lines 43, 34, 29 and the transverse edge 24.

A collar fiap 70, a first side fiap 71, a bottom flap 72, a second side flap 73 and a second collar flap 74 are joined to the respective panels 65, 46, 45, 47 and 66 by the respective fold lines 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34.

A collar flap 80, a side flap 81, another bottom flap 82, a side flap 83 and a collar flap 84 are joined to the respective panels 65, 46, 45, 47 and 66 by the respective fold lines 25 through 29.

Each of the flaps 70 through 74 and 80 through 84 are substantially polygonal in shape i.e., rectangular or square. However, the side flaps 73, 83 are provided with semi-circular notches 85, 86, respectively, which open toward the respective collar flaps 74, 84. The side flaps 71, 81 are similarly provided with quarter-circular notches 87, 88 which open generally toward the collar flaps 7 0,80, respectively.

The exposed surfaces of the collar flaps 70, 80 are coated with an adhesive, as indicated by the stippling in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. Adhesive is also applied to the flaps 71, 81, 72, and 82 on the bottom surface thereof, as viewed in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. Adhesive applied to the flaps 71, 72 is indicated by stippling in FIGURE 2 of the drawings.

The blank is formed into the container 15 by folding the side panels 46, 47 toward one another about the fold lines 39, 40, as is best illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings. The flap 71 is directed between the flaps 72 and 73, while the flap 81 is positioned between the flaps 82 and 83. Upon the adhesive securement of the flaps 71-73 and 81-83 a generally polygonal container body .is formed, and is generally referred to by the reference numeral 90 (FIGURE 4).

The collar forming panel 65 is folded into overlying relationship with the side panel 46 while the collar forming panel 66 is similarly folded into overlying relationship against the exterior of the side panel 47. The collar flaps 74, 84 are then adhesively secured to the respective collar flaps 70, 80. The panels 65, 66 and the flaps 70, 80, 74 and 84 define a collar member, generally referred to by the reference numeral 91, which externally telescopically surrounds and is slidable relative to an upper end portion 92 of the container body 90.

The container body 90 includes a mouth defined by the fold lines 38 and 41 (FIGURE 10) which normally opens axially upwardly and is closed by the pair of top panels 50, 60 (FIGURE 4) when the collar 91 is in its uppermost position, as shown in FIGURE 4. A pair of radial passages 94, 95 (FIGURES 7 through 11) are defined by the respective notches 86, 88 and 85, 87. The radial passages 94, 95 are closed by the collar 91 when 4 the latter is in the uppermost position thereof (FIG- URES 4 and 5 Assuming it is desirable to gain access to the interior of the container body 90 to package articles in or withdraw articles from the container 15 and that the container 15 is in the closed position illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5, the container body 90 is grasped in one hand and the collar 91 is grasped in another band. The collar 91 is then drawn downwardly toward the bottom panel 45 which causes the top panels 50, 60 to flip or pivot about the fold lines 36, 38 and 41, 43 from the position shown in FIGURE 5 to the position illustrated in FIG- URES 7 and 8 in the direction of the unnumbered headed arrows in FIGURE 8. This same downward movement of the collar 91 begins to expose the radial passages 94, 95 as the collar flaps 74, 84 move toward the bottom panel 45, as is best illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8 of the drawings.

Upon continued downward movement of the collar 91 to the position illustrated in FIGURES l0 and 11, the top panels 50, 60 continue flipping or folding along the respective fold lines 38, 41. The top panel portions or flaps 51, 52 and 61, 62 unfold from the generally abutting relationship illustrated in FIGURE 8 to the angular spaced relationship illustrated in FIGURES l0 and 11 by the relative pivoting between the flaps 51, 52 and 61, 62 about the respective fold lines 37, 42. At this point the container mouth (unnumbered) is completely open as are the radial passages 94, 95. Articles, such as cigarettes, candy or bulk products, such as cereal, can be packaged in or withdrawn from the container mouth and/or either of the radial passages 94, 95. After a desired product has been withdrawn from or introduced into the container body 90, the container 15 is closed by sliding the collar upwardly from the position illustrated in FIG- URES l0 and 11 to the position illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5 during which time the top panels 50, 51 automatically fiip or fold back to the overlying relationship illustrated in FIGURE 5 of the drawings.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provisions have been made for carrying out the desired end. However, attention is again directed to the fact that additional variations may be made in this invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A container comprising a container body, said container body having an upper end portion, said upper end portion defining a mouth of the container, said mouth being set-off by longitudinal and transverse edges of predetermined length, a top panel normally overlying and closing said container mouth in a first position thereof and being movable to a second position at which said mouth is open, said top panel having a length greater than the length of said longitudinal edge whereby opposite transverse edge portions of said top panel project longitudinally beyond the underlying transverse edges of said mouth in said first portions, and a collar connected to said top panel and being in external sliding relationship to said body for moving said top panel between the first and second positions thereof.

2. A container comprising a container body, said container body having an upper end portion, said upper end portion defining a mouth of the container, saidmouth being set-ofi by longitudinal and transverse edges of predetermined length, a pair of top panels normally overlying and closing said container mouth in a first position thereof and being movable to a second position at which said mouth is open, each of said top panels having a length greater than the length of said longitudinal edges whereby opposite transverse edge portions of each of said pair of top panels project longitudinally beyond an associated underlying transverse edge of said mouth. in said first position and means connected to said pair of top panels and slidable relative to said body for moving said pair of top panels between the first and second positions thereof.

3. A container comprising a container body, said container body having an upper end portion, said upper end portion defining a mouth of the container, said mouth being set-01f by longitudinal and transverse edges of predetermined length, a top panel normally overlying and closing said container mouth in a first position thereof and being movable to a second position at which the container mouth is open, said top panel being formed of interior and exterior portions folded into overlying relationship in said first position, at least each said exterior portion having a length greater than the length of said longitudinal edges whereby opposite transverse edge portions of said exterior portions project longitudinally beyond the underlying transverse edges of said mouth in said first position, and means secured to said exterior portion and slidable relative to said body for moving said top panel from said first position to said second position.

4. A container comprising a container body, said container body having an upper end portion, said upper end portion defining a mouth of the container, said mouth being set-off by longitudinal and transverse edges of predetermined length, a pair of top panels normally overlying and closing said mouth in a first position thereof and being movable to a second position at which said mouth is open, each of said pair of top panels being formed of interior and exterior portions folded into overlying relationship in said first position, at least each of said exterior portions having a length greater than the length of said longitudinal edges whereby opposite transverse edge portions of said exterior portions project longitudinally beyond an associated underlying transverse edge of said mouth in said first position, and means secured to each of said exterior portions and slidable relative to said body for moving said top panel from said first position to said second position.

5. A container blank comprising a generally elongated one-piece sheet material member having a plurality of transverse fold lines dividing said member into a generally centrally located bottom panel and a side panel at each side of said bottom panel, said side panels each being of a predetermined transverse dimension, a top panel joined to each side panel by an associated fold line, each top panel being divided by a transverse fold line into first and second panel portions, each first panel portion being joined by its adjoining associated fold line to an associated side panel, each first panel portion being longitudinally shorter than said predetermined transverse dimension and the longitudinal dimensions of said second panel portions whereby opposite transverse edges of the latter panel portions project beyond transverse edges of said first panel portions and longitudinal edges of said side panels, a collar forming panel joined to each of the second panel portions, a flap joined to at least one of said collar forming panels along a longitudinal fold line, and said flap being securable to the other of said collar forming panels in the set-up position of the blank to form a collar-like member slidable for opening and closing said top panels.

6. A container blank comprising a generally elongated one-piece sheet material member having a plurality of transverse and longitudinal fold lines dividing said member into a bottom panel, a side panel at each side of said bottom panel, said side panels each being of a predetermined transverse dimension, a top panel joined to each side panel by an associated fold line, each top panel being divided by a transverse fold line into first and second panel portions, each first panel portion being joined by its adjoining associated fold line to an adjacent side panel, each first panel portion being longitudinally shorter than said predetermined transverse dimension and the longitudinal dimensions of said second panel portions whereby opposite transverse edges of the latter panel portions project beyond transverse edges of said first panel portions and longitudinal edges of said side panels, a collar forming panel joined to each of the second panel portions, a flap joined to at least one of said collar forming panels along a portion of one of said longitudinal fold lines, means for securing said flap to the other of said collar forming panels, end flaps joined by said longitudinal fold lines to said side panels, and notches in certain of said end fiaps opening longitudinally away from each other and toward adjacent ones of said collar forming panels.

7. The container as defined in claim 1 wherein said container is constructed from a one-piece sheet material blank, said month has portions opening both axially and radially of said container body, and said collar normally closing the radially opening portion of said mouth in the first position of said top panel.

8. The container as defined in claim 7 wherein said radially opening mouth portions are each defined by axially upwardly opening notches.

9. The container as defined in claim 8 wherein said radially opening mouth portions are each defined by axially upwardly opening notches.

10. The container as defined in claim 4 wherein said container is constructed of a one-piece sheet material blank, said mouth has portions opening both axially and radially of said container body, and said collar normally closes the radially opening portion of said mouth in the first position of said pair of top panels.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,950,060 8/ 1960 Von Rudeen 206-41 3,067,925 12/ 1962 Gillam 22919 X FOREIGN PATENTS 386,577 l/1933 Great Britain. 402,534 12/ 1933 Great Britain.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Assistant Examiner. 

2. A CONTAINER COMPRISING A CONTAINER BODY, SAID CONTAINER BODY HAVING AN UPPER END PORTION, SAID UPPER END PORTION DEFINING A MOUTH OF THE CONTAINER, SAID MOUTH BEING OFF-SET BY LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE EDGES OF PREDETERMINED LENGTH, A PAIR OF TOP PANELS NORMALLY OVERLYING AND CLOSING SAID CONTAINER MOUTH IN A FIRST POSITION THEREOF AND BEING MOVABLE TO A SECOND POSITION AT WHICH SAID MOUTH IS OPEN, EACH OF SAID OPEN PANELS HAVING A LENGTH GREATER THAN THE LENGTH OF SAID LONGITUDINAL EDGES WHEREBY OPPOSITE TRANSVERSE EDGE PORTIONS OF EACH OF SAID PAIR OF TOP PANELS PROJECT LONGITUDINALLY BEYOND AN ASSOCIATED UNDERLYING TRANSVERSE EDGE OF SAID MOUTH IN SAID FIRST POSITION AND MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID PAIR OF TOP PANELS AND SLIDABLE RELATIVE TO SAID BODY FOR MOVING SAID PAIR OF TOP PANELS BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS THEREOF. 